Basic studies of isolation of uncultured iron-oxidizing bacteria, and mechanism of forming iron oxides produced by the bacteria for producing novel functional materials.

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H06654
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Applied microbiology
• Research Institution: Japan Women's University
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Tomoko 日本女子大学, 理学部, 助教 (30623772)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-08-28 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 鉄酸化細菌 / Leptothrix ochracea / Gallionella ferruginea

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, I aimed to isolate and look for a culture methods for iron oxidizing bacteria that produced tubular or corkscrew-shaped iron oxides outside the cell, and then, to clarify the mechanism of formation of uniquely-shaped iron oxides. I searched for the habitat of iron-oxidizing bacteria, and I found a well with floating brownish flocs consists of tubular iron oxides. However, I did not get permission for sampling. On the other hand, the corkscrew-shaped iron oxides obtained from enrichment culture of Gallionella ferruginea were analyzed by using LM, SEM, SEM-EDX, HRTEM-FFT. Shortly-pitched long fiber iron oxides formed in the synthetic medium with different shape, structure and elemental composition from naturally-formed the corkscrew-shaped iron oxides. FFT pattern with few spots indicates microcrystalline. Our results showed that novel functional materials could be produced through culturing in different media.

Free Research Field

環境微生物学